FORTY-SEVEN TH CONGRESS. Sess. II. C11. 118-120. 1853. 487 CHAP. 118.-An act to exclude the public lands in Alabama from the operation of Mar. 3, 1883. the laws relating to mineral lands. —·—·—·;· Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Sams oj A-mmm in congress ammbzea, That within the stm of Ala- Mi¤¤¤~11¤¤d¤ i¤ bama all public lands, whether mineral or otherwise, shall be subject M‘*b"""‘“* °°°‘ to disposal only asagricnltural lands: Provided however, That all lands P*'°¤*·*°· which have heretofore been reported to the General Land Oiiiee as centaming coal and iron shall first be offered at public sale: And provided Proviao. further, That any bona fide entry under the provisions of the homestead law of lands within said State heretofore made may be patented without reference to an act approved May tenth, eighteen hundred and 17 SWF-. 91- seventy-two, entitled “An aet to promote the development of the mining resources of the United States," in eases where the persons making application for such patents have in all other respects complied with the homestead law relating thereto. Approved, March 3, 1883. CHAP. 119.-An act authorizing and directing the Postmaster General to readjust Mar. 3, 1883. the salaries of certain Postmasters in accordance with the provision of section eight ————-——-——— of the act of June twelfth, eighteen hundred and sixty six. Bc it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Postmaster-General {*°‘?‘U“?”’°;’t* 9* be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to readjust the salaries of ;'f,;:;°,:,Q;n'?° m" all postmasters and late postmasters of the third, fourth, and fifth classes, under the classification provided for in the act of July drst, 13 Stat., 335. eighteen hundred and sixty-four, whose salaries have not heretofore been readjusted under the terms of section eight of the act of June 14 gt,t_,m, twelfth, eighteen hundred and sixty-six, who made sworn return of receipts and business for readjnstment of salary to the Postmaster- General, the First Assistant Postmaster General, or the Third Assistant Postmaster-General, or who made quarterly returns in conformity to the then existing laws and regulations, showing that the salary allowed was ten per eentnm less than it would have been upon the basis of commissions under the act of eighteen hundred and iifI:y—fonr; such readjustments to be made in accordance with the mode presented in section eight of the act of June twelfth, eighteen hundred and sixty-six, and ln date from the beginning of the quarter succeeding that in which such sworn returns of receipts and business, or quarterly returns were made: Provided, That every readjustment of salary under this act shall be P'°*"•°· upon a written application signed by the postmaster or late postmaster or legal representative entitled to said readjustment; and that each pay- ment made shall be by warrant or check on the Treasurer or some assistant treasurer of the United States, made payable to the order of said ‘ applicant, and forwarded by mail to him at the post oiliee within whose delivery he resides, and which address shall be set forth in the appl1oa~ tion above provided for. Approved, March 3, 1883. CHAP. 120.-An act to amend chapter iihsy-eight of volume twenty of the United Mar. 3, 1883- States Statutes at Large, relating to contracts under the War Department. ""_""""" Bc it enacted the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of Auwribgz in Congress assembled, That chapter fiftyyeight of wE;’*;)*:;9_:i‘:;l:' volume twenty of the United States Statutes_ at Large, entitled ‘fAn 208,,% $_ act to authorize the Secretary of War to prescribe rules and regulations to be observed in the preparation, submission, and opening of bids for
